Find Electrician Schools Near Me in Camden NJ 08101

How to Become an Electrician in Camden New Jersey

Camden NJ electrician inspecting circuit panel The initial step to learning to be an electrical tradesman or contractor is enrolling in an electrician trade school near Camden NJ. But with numerous technical schools to pick from, just how do you tackle making sure that you enroll in the ideal one? Particularly because there are a number of points to evaluate. For example, some prospective students will commence by searching for schools that are close to their home. After they have found some that are within driving distance, they will choose the one with the cheapest tuition. While cost and location are significant, they are not the sole things that should be evaluated. Also critical are the accreditation and reputations of the schools, along with their graduation and job placement rates. These and additional qualifiers should help mold your final decision when choosing an electrician trade school. We will talk about that checklist in greater detail later in this post. But first, let’s talk a little bit about being an electrician and the training choices that are available.

Electrician Diploma, Certificate and Degree Options near Camden NJ

Camden NJ electrician re-wiring power outlet There are three general ways to receive electrician instruction in a trade or technical school near Camden NJ. You may choose a certificate or diploma program, or earn an Associate Degree. Bachelor’s Degrees are obtainable at certain schools, but are not as prevalent as the first three alternatives. Frequently these programs are made available together with an apprenticeship, which are mandated by the majority of states in order to become licensed or if you want to become certified. Bellow are brief descriptions of the three most typical programs offered.

Certificate and Diploma Programs are typically provided by New Jersey vocational and trade schools and take about a year to finish. They furnish a good foundation and are aimed towards those who want to join an apprenticeship more quickly as a journeyman electrician.
Associate Degrees require two years to finish and are provided by New Jersey community colleges, usually as an Associate Degree in Electrical Technology. They provide a more extensive education while supplying the foundation that readies students to enter into their apprenticeship program.

As previously mentioned, Bachelor’s Degree programs are offered at some New Jersey colleges, but are less preferred at 4 years than the other shorter programs. The majority of states mandate that an apprenticeship of at least 2 years and more typically 4 years be performed prior to licensing. For that reason, many students are eager to commence their paid apprenticeship, particularly if it’s not part of their academic program.

Electrician Certification and Licensing Criteria

Camden NJ electricians working on power lines Electricians in Camden NJ can carry out a multitude of services, including testing, installing and replacing electrical systems, and ensuring that the wiring in houses and buildings are up to code standards. After completing an apprenticeship, journeyman electricians are mandated to become licensed in the majority of states or municipalities. The period of apprenticeship differs by state, but normally about 4 to 5 years of prior experience is needed before taking the licensing examination. The exams typically evaluate electrical theory and general knowledge, as well as knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Obtaining certification is also a voluntary way for an electrician to distinguish her or himself as a skilled and experienced professional. The certifications offered vary by state and may be acquired in many specialties, including cable splicing as an example. The certification procedure in most cases involves three levels of proficiency:

An experience requirement
Passing a written exam
Passing a practical exam

Examples of certifying organizations include the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) along with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). It’s important that the electrician trade school that you choose not only furnishes a solid academic foundation, but also helps prep you for passing any certification and licensing exams that you may be required to pass in the future.

Attending Electrician Schools Online in Camden NJ

attending electrician school online in Camden NJ An option that you might have contemplated is selecting an electrician online school to earn a degree or a certificate. Although online schools have become more accepted as a way of attending class without needing to travel, in this case they are not totally internet based. Just about all electrician training programs require some attendance on-campus to get hands-on practical training. But since the rest of the classes can be attended online, distance learning might be a more accommodating alternative for individuals that have minimal time for education. And as an added benefit many online schools have a lower tuition cost compared to their traditional alternatives. Driving costs from Camden NJ are also lessened and some of the study materials can be available on line also. All of these benefits can make online electrician vocational schools more affordable and accessible. And many are fully accredited, which we will deal with in our due diligence checklist.

Points to Ask Electrician Tech Schools

Camden NJ electrician re-wiring circuit panel When you have decided to obtain a diploma, certificate or degree, you can begin to refine your training options. Since there are so many electrician vocational and trade schools in the Camden NJ region, it’s essential to have a checklist of criteria that each school must satisfy. The initial two that we discussed were location and the cost of tuition. If you are interested in earning an degree online, then that needs to be an option that your chosen school offers. And although all three qualifiers may be crucial when making your determination, there are other variables that must be taken into account also. Below is a checklist of those additional qualifications that you will need to research before selecting an electrical tech school.

Accreditation. Numerous electrician vocational programs have attained either a regional or a national accreditation. They may attain Institutional Accreditation, which involves the school’s programs overall, or Programmatic Accreditation, which pertains to a specific program, such as electrical technology. Make sure that the Camden NJ school and program are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, for instance the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Along with helping guarantee that you receive an excellent education, it can assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Furthermore, many states require that the electrician training course be accredited for it to be approved for licensing.

High Completion and Placement Rates. Ask the electrician schools you are looking at what their completion rates are. The completion rate is the percentage or portion of students who enroll in and complete the course. A lower completion rate could signify that students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. It could also indicate that the instructors were not qualified to train the students. It’s also imperative that the schools have high job placement rates. Older and/or more reputable schools may have a more extensive list of alumni, which may mean more contacts for the school to utilize for their apprenticeship and job placement programs. A high job placement rate can not only affirm that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but additionally that it has the network of contacts to help Camden NJ students secure apprenticeships or jobs.

Apprenticeship Programs. Many electrician technical programs are taught in conjunction with an apprenticeship or an internship program. Those participating technical and vocational schools will help place you in an apprenticeship program within their network of electrical contractors or trade unions. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have referring relationships with Camden NJ area electricians or electrical contractors. An apprenticeship not only provides a rewarding experience by supplying practical training, but it also provides employment opportunities and helps to establish relationships in the area electrician professional community.

Modern Facilities. Confirm that the school facilities and the equipment that you will be instructed on are up-to-date and what you will be working with in the field. If you are currently in an internship or an apprenticeship, check with the electrical tech you are working with regarding what you should be looking for. Otherwise, ask a local Camden NJ electrical contracting company if they can provide some pointers. Also keep in mind that unless you can move, the school needs to be within driving distance of your Camden home. Take note that if you decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, in addition to moving costs there might be increased tuition fees compared to in-state residents.

Smaller Classes. It’s desirable that you receive as much individualized training as possible, which can be challenging in bigger classes. Ask if you can monitor a few of the classes so that you can see how large they are and experience the interaction between teachers and students. Speak with a few of the students and get their opinions concerning class sizes and instruction. Last, speak to some of the instructors and find out what their level of experience is and what degrees or certifications they hold.

Flexible Scheduling. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are assessing are flexible enough to meet your needs. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Camden NJ, confirm that the programs you are looking at offer those choices. If you can only attend part-time, make certain that the school you select offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the protocol is to make-up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Considering Attending an Electrician School near Camden NJ?

Following is a little bit of background information about the Camden NJ area.

Camden, New Jersey

Camden is a city in Camden County, New Jersey. Camden is located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 77,344.[10][12][13] Camden is the 12th most populous municipality in New Jersey. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828.[22] Camden has been the county seat of Camden County[23] since the county was formed on March 13, 1844.[22] The city derives its name from Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden.[24][25] Camden is made up of over twenty different neighborhoods.[26][27][28][29]

The city was consistently prosperous throughout the Great Depression and World War II. After World War II, Camden manufacturers began gradually closing their factories and moving out of the city. With the loss of manufacturing jobs came a sharp decline in population numbers. Suburbanization also influenced the drop in population. Civil unrest and crime became common in Camden. In 1971, civil unrest reached its peak with riots breaking out in response to the death of Horacio Jimenez, a Puerto Rican motorist who was killed by two white police officers.[30]

The Camden waterfront holds four tourist attractions, the USS New Jersey; the BB&T Pavilion; Campbell's Field; and the Adventure Aquarium.[31] Campbell's Field had been home to the minor league baseball team, the Camden Riversharks but is currently scheduled to be torn down. The city is the home of Rutgers University–Camden, which was founded as the South Jersey Law School in 1926,[32] and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, which opened in 2012. Camden also houses both Cooper University Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center. The "eds and meds" institutions account for roughly 45% of Camden's total employment.[33]

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Enroll in the Ideal Electrical Vocational School near Camden NJ

Picking the best electrician trade school will undoubtedly be the most important decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many factors that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are considering. It’s a necessity that any electrical training program that you are assessing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own equipment to train with. Classroom teaching should offer a real-world perspective, and the curriculum should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in duration and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and certificate or degree will best serve your needs. Each program provides different options for certification as well. Perhaps the best approach to research your short list of schools is to visit each campus and talk with the students and faculty. Take the time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make certain that you are confident that the program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the right training, hard work and commitment, the end outcome will be a new career as a professional electrician in Camden NJ.